Tourists Invisible In The Dark

Tourists off to see the northern lights can prove invisible in the dark, creating dangerous conditions for motorists, police say.

RÚV reports that, as northern lights tours become increasingly popular, this means greater numbers of tourists being taken by the busload into the countryside at night. Often times, these tourists are made to disembark on dark country roads, where they are all but invisible to passing motorists.

The West Iceland Police report that recently, a group of tourists were disembarked near Hafnarfjall to watch the northern lights. They wore no reflective gear, and all lights in and on the bus were switched off in order to aid in seeing the northern lights. This led to a few close calls, as motorists found themselves having to suddenly swerve out of the way.

Rather than placing the onus of responsibility on the tourists, the police have advised that tour guides not disembark tourists on the road itself, but rather pull over, preferably into a parking area. Those wishing to add an extra layer of caution might also choose to wear a reflective badge on their clothing.